Author: darkhavensTitle: ChangesPairing: Spike/Xander of BuffyRating: PGDisclaimer: Not mine, never will be. No harm, no foul, no money made.Notes: More of the past and future adventures of baby!vamp!Xander.

Autumn Leaves

Fall is both a curse and a blessing to vampires. They have longer in the dark to hunt and play for sure, but there are drawbacks. Pretty coloured leaves crunch underfoot and give the game away, and women run much faster in their boots than in their summer shoes. Never fast enough, of course, but that's beside the point. And when thermometers dip down below a certain level, there's always that slim chance that eagle eyes will note the absence of those clouds of damp white air as they exhale.

Xander loves every single minute of the season. Spike endures.

A Nip And A Sip

"You have to let go, Kitten, fall up into the stars. Only they can keep you safe from harm. A sip and you'll be on your way, all seeing, searching out. Just a little nip and sip and lick your lips and fixed!"

Xander pulled back from Dru's wrist and looked across at Spike.

"If I do this, will I end up mad, like her? No offence!"

Dru laughed and combed his hair with careful fingers, then tugged.

"Shouldn't disrespect your elders, Kitten, it's just not done. But your sanity's as safe as ever it was."

Spike nodded. Xander sipped.

Falling Up

The first time a vision appeared unprompted Xander tumbled over. 'Falling up into the stars' was Dru speak for rampant vertigo. He clung to the floor, ignoring the all too human need to vomit, as the carpet pitched and rolled beneath his back. And then it stopped.

"Xan?"

"Slayers, Spike, hundreds of them. I can feel them under my skin. They're all awake and hungry and confused."

"Xan…"

"I can hear them, Spike, and see them. I can almost taste them! All those little girls with Slayer power and no idea, waiting for someone to come along and find them…"